In 13 years as headmaster of Perth's Hale School, some of John Inverarity's most indelible contributions to the lives of his pupils were made in the hour before lessons each morning.

As the clock ticked towards the commencement bell, Inverarity could commonly be found sitting outside as students milled around, happy to chat to anyone. Seldom would he resort to the typical headmasterly questions about subjects and study, preferring to learn about and encourage the things his students were most passionate about.

Such attentiveness, and genuine interest in the lives of those in his care, has served Inverarity well as a cricketer, a captain, a coach and an educator. It will now be essential to his role as Cricket Australia's National Selector, a position the Argus review equated to that of an "HR manager" for the nation's cricketers. Valuably for a position that will require bold decisions under the critical gaze of cricket watchers, one would have great difficulty finding a man more universally respected in the game in Australia.

It is a measure of how highly Inverarity was regarded as a thinker and leader that he came close to captaining Australia, though he played only six Test matches, and is best-known as the last man out when Derek Underwood won England the final Ashes Test of 1968 at The Oval. Inverarity was briefly Ian Chappell's vice-captain during the 1971-72 matches against the Rest of the World, then a tour selector on the 1972 Ashes tour that followed. Though never quite talented enough for international cricket as a batsman or a bowler, he extracted the most from himself in first-class combat, and had one of the cannier brains in the game - so much so that he was described more than once as the Australian Mike Brearley.

Inverarity lifted the Sheffield Shield four times in six summers as captain of Western Australia, demonstrating rare intelligence and a near photographic memory for the habits, strengths and failings of opposition batsmen and bowlers. He was aided and educated, too, by Laurie Sawle, then the WACA chairman of selectors, who later occupied the same role with rare distinction for Australia. "Most praise Inverarity's approachability," Christian Ryan wrote in Golden Boy, his biography of Kim Hughes. "He identified and articulated players' individual roles. This promoted belonging, empowerment. He was expert in chemistry, in who should bowl at who."

Ryan related the story of how, during a team meeting before a club final in Perth, Inverarity predicted the West Australian allrounder Ian Brayshaw could be run out as he hared back habitually for a second run. Inverarity sent Tony Mann, with his strong arm, to third man in anticipation, and was on hand at the bowler's end to accept the return and utterly humbug Brayshaw, yards short of his ground. "Inver knew every batsman backwards," Mann told Ryan.

Inverarity's powers of observation, common sense and intellect made him a worthwhile port of call for touring captains, too. Brearley perhaps found a kindred spirit when he took his Englishmen to Perth early in the 1978-79 Ashes series. Upon watching the stodgy seam bowling of Mike Hendrick, Inverarity challenged Brearley's view that Bob Willis and Ian Botham were the most vital members of his attack on Australia's bouncier but less capricious pitches.

"I think we had come to Australia with the idea that he was more dangerous in English conditions," Brearley recalled in the Guardian, "and couldn't quite believe our eyes when [Inverarity] told us that if we paid attention to him, he could be extremely awkward in Australia, too, and a perfect foil for Bob Willis and Ian Botham, who were less accurate if more penetrative on flat pitches." Hendrick took 19 wickets at 15.73, drying up an end as England mauled the hosts 5-1. Many felt it might have been closer had Inverarity, rather than Graham Yallop, led Australia.

Curiously, Inverarity was not called on by the national team as a player, coach or selector in his latter summers, even as Australian cricket battled through years of indifferent performance and worse leadership. Instead he collected record numbers of runs and wickets - bowling neat, nagging left-arm spin - with WA and then South Australia, where his influence on David Hookes, among others, was profound.

He identified and articulated players' individual roles. This promoted belonging, empowerment. He was expert in chemistry, in who should bowl at who

Christian Ryan on John Inverarity

At the same time Inverarity forged a career in education, advancing from mathematics teaching to serve as deputy principal at Adelaide's Pembroke School from 1981-88, and then accepting the head role at Hale. He was photographed once late in his playing career, following through after a delivery: eyes intense, body wiry, hair a little frazzled - the schoolmaster in flannels.

While still maintaining his academic pursuits, Inverarity found rich success as a coach in England, shepherding Kent and Warwickshire to county results well in advance of their means. At Edgbaston he collected trophies, guiding the team to championships with the pragmatic use of consistent, methodical batting to place opponents under pressure and give modest bowling resources their best chance.

Results were not Inverarity's only achievements, either. He developed the potential of a cricketer as talented as Ian Bell, encouraging the young batsman to further himself with club cricket in Perth, while maximising that of one as limited as Ashley Giles, who with Inverarity's help built an international career more substantial than many can have expected.

His coaching methods melded the old and the new, always retaining a strong sense that it is the captain, not the coach, who runs a team, and that the best players learn for themselves. He has also been known as a strong proponent of cricketers finding enthusiasms beyond the game. Ed Smith's batting developed at Kent, and so too did his writing. At Edgbaston, Mark Wagh grew into a player self-aware and eloquent enough to pen his own diary of a season, after Inverarity's departure.

Inverarity was in his final season with Warwickshire in 2005 when Ricky Ponting's Australians arrived for the second Test of a fabled Ashes series. Their coach, John Buchanan, sought his countryman's counsel about the nature of the pitch, and returned to the team room with the advice that it would be brimful of runs. Having heard the groundsman, Steve Rouse, worry about a potential "minefield" after unseasonal rain, Ponting paid no mind, and chose to bowl first upon winning the toss. His decision set in train the events that would lead to the loss of the urn, and Inverarity's judgement of the surface could not be questioned after England streaked past 400 on the first day.

Since returning home, Inverarity has spent most of his time as the master of St George's College at the University of Western Australia, a position occupied by highly regarded academics and holders of high office. Yet he has also kept in touch with cricket, coaching at club level, and has maintained relationships with many in high places in the game, including his former team-mate and now CA chairman Wally Edwards. He has looked out for fellow players who found the going harder in retirement, serving on the Player Hardship Committee of the Australian Cricketers' Association. There has also been travel to watch overseas Tests, including the 2009 Ashes series.

Guests at Inverarity's dinner table speak with enthusiasm of how no chance to discuss Australian cricket and cricketers is wasted, with the dialogue focused as much on moral fibre as on front-foot defence. Interviewed by the Wisden Cricketer about the state of Australian cricket during the Ashes last summer, he drew comparisons not with any cricket team but with the decline of the Roman and British Empires. "Things grow and then self-indulgence comes in and you start believing your own hype and things don't go so well," he said. "There are a lot of clichés and a lot of club cover-up, and you think that because you are the Australians or because you are the Romans, that you are inherently better and the whole thing comes crashing down."

It is probably this sort of perceptiveness that prompted CA's chief executive James Sutherland to seek Inverarity's application for national selector at a time when the 67-year-old master had started looking for the next challenge to meet beyond St George's. Pat Howard, the team's new performance manager, was similarly impressed, and the appointment was not long in following.

Under the redefinition of the head selection role in the Argus review, Inverarity will be less a chairman lording over the rest than a collaborative force between the captain, the coach and the two other part-time selectors. He will need to develop a strong relationship with Michael Clarke, and will continue to look out for men of robust character to take the team forward. It was the same kind of search Sawle mounted in the 1980s, and it has been made more difficult in the eyes of Inverarity by the advent of a more comfortable, professional culture in the domestic game. "State squads sign up 20 young professional cricketers," he said last year, "and their life is cricket, and the development in their life beyond cricket is diminished, and I think that leads to a lack of development of personal growth, of personality and of character, so you get a lack of leadership."

Clearly mindful of how empires rise and fall, Inverarity has never been one to bask in his own achievements. "He's never been one of those 'in my day' guys," a former pupil remarked. "He's WA's best captain and a legend at Hale, but you'd never know it by talking to him."

Speaking to Inverarity before the morning bell at Hale, new students found a mentor prepared to listen, a leader prepared to learn. Only later might they have noticed that the school's mighty performing arts centre bears his name, as does a stand at the WACA ground. Communication has its benefits.

This is exactly the kind of character Australia needed at this time. A person who is used to people management and getting the best out of those around him has been sorely lacking over the last 6 years. I'm sure it won't be long before Australians will find that the team is working as a unit instead of a collection of individuals. As a supporter of the 'old enemy' I welcome him and look forward to many exciting England- Australia tussles over the next few years.

whoster
on October 30, 2011, 14:26 GMT

I reckon the Aussies have got the right man in charge of selection. It doesn't matter that he wasn't a great of the game - that doesn't necessarily make you qualified to be a selector. 'The Aussie Mike Brearley' sounds like a good analogy - he's obviously a person who pays a hell of a lot of attention to what makes people tick, and that's why he's been a popular and successful school master. Selectors can only be as good as what's available to pick from, but I reckon this is a bloke who'll weigh up players not just from their stats, but whether they have the mental fortitude to handle Test cricket. Certainly a step in the right direction for Australia, and hopefully he'll show a lot more loyalty and belief in players than Andrew Hilditch. England have stuck by their guns by giving players like Cook, Bell and Broad full backing, and the dividends are now being paid handsomely. The Aussies need to identify the new generation of players, and like England, back them to the hilt.

TEST_CRICKET_ONLY
on October 30, 2011, 11:11 GMT

Quality individual by all accounts, but a very average test cricketer, and his qualifications as chairman of selectors are what ? Someone who has devoted their entire working life to the game, such as Marsh, would make more sense. At least we get to start forgetting Hilditch, who should have been gone years ago. Any chance Sutherland & M. Clarke might follow him ?

katandthat3
on October 29, 2011, 21:44 GMT

Great insight Dan. Must admit I didn't think of John as a candidate for the Head Selector role but actually pretty excited about the appointment. I'm sure there will be still selections that people won't agree with but that's par for the course. At least I know there will be more intelligence behind the decisions to select particular players. I still hope another candidate for the role Rod Marsh is found some position in the set up as well. Things are looking better, the players still have to do the job on the field but it makes it easier when the off field is well run too. Still like to see the Independent structure in CA but see what happens.

greynicolls
on October 29, 2011, 17:32 GMT

Wonderful insight into one of the lesser known giants of Australian cricket. Inverarity's role has been beautifully penned in this article and Australian cricket would do wonders with his precocious fillers into the various vacuous aspects of the modern game. Rightly professed, character building is not intrinsic to the core competence but is a result of the peripheral demands one makes of oneself. These challenges help polish the rough edges and build a sense of deep understanding of one's own pitfalls to appreciate and understand a fellow mate's failings in the right perspective. This leads to good Team Building and then the larger success is scripted.....Rest becomes folklore of tomorrow...

the_silent_observer
on October 29, 2011, 13:35 GMT

Very good article that brings in non-cricket dimensions to cricket and hence sustains the interest in reading. A welcome change from the standard writings about "which captain could have done what in which test....?" It does not seem a coincidence that all such articles about ex-cricketers are classic studies about the characteristics, leadership attributes and human values (in short, not cricketing banalities).

Simoc
on October 29, 2011, 11:02 GMT

John is very keen on encouraging up and coming players. At Hale School I overheard him asking one of the groundsman about the training being given out to juniors at a training week being given at the school by mostly current W.A state cricketers. On hearing that a couple of them were 'on holiday' he was off to correct things immediately. It was the most serious I ever saw him.

Krishna_M
on October 29, 2011, 7:41 GMT

Met him in Singapore in the mid 80's when he was on a stop over there on the way to Eng w a school team. Wonderful person & was a kind but tough father like figure that seemed to command universal respect. Great choice for this role & hard to understand how CA could persist w the likes of Hilditch for so long. Greg Chappell knows his cricket and probably means well, but his personality& character won't work for most teams. Best left to work one on one w cricketers. Inverarity seems a great choice to help Aus for the next few years....And a lovely article to boot.....

landl47
on October 31, 2011, 2:32 GMT

This is exactly the kind of character Australia needed at this time. A person who is used to people management and getting the best out of those around him has been sorely lacking over the last 6 years. I'm sure it won't be long before Australians will find that the team is working as a unit instead of a collection of individuals. As a supporter of the 'old enemy' I welcome him and look forward to many exciting England- Australia tussles over the next few years.

whoster
on October 30, 2011, 14:26 GMT

I reckon the Aussies have got the right man in charge of selection. It doesn't matter that he wasn't a great of the game - that doesn't necessarily make you qualified to be a selector. 'The Aussie Mike Brearley' sounds like a good analogy - he's obviously a person who pays a hell of a lot of attention to what makes people tick, and that's why he's been a popular and successful school master. Selectors can only be as good as what's available to pick from, but I reckon this is a bloke who'll weigh up players not just from their stats, but whether they have the mental fortitude to handle Test cricket. Certainly a step in the right direction for Australia, and hopefully he'll show a lot more loyalty and belief in players than Andrew Hilditch. England have stuck by their guns by giving players like Cook, Bell and Broad full backing, and the dividends are now being paid handsomely. The Aussies need to identify the new generation of players, and like England, back them to the hilt.

TEST_CRICKET_ONLY
on October 30, 2011, 11:11 GMT

Quality individual by all accounts, but a very average test cricketer, and his qualifications as chairman of selectors are what ? Someone who has devoted their entire working life to the game, such as Marsh, would make more sense. At least we get to start forgetting Hilditch, who should have been gone years ago. Any chance Sutherland & M. Clarke might follow him ?

katandthat3
on October 29, 2011, 21:44 GMT

Great insight Dan. Must admit I didn't think of John as a candidate for the Head Selector role but actually pretty excited about the appointment. I'm sure there will be still selections that people won't agree with but that's par for the course. At least I know there will be more intelligence behind the decisions to select particular players. I still hope another candidate for the role Rod Marsh is found some position in the set up as well. Things are looking better, the players still have to do the job on the field but it makes it easier when the off field is well run too. Still like to see the Independent structure in CA but see what happens.

greynicolls
on October 29, 2011, 17:32 GMT

Wonderful insight into one of the lesser known giants of Australian cricket. Inverarity's role has been beautifully penned in this article and Australian cricket would do wonders with his precocious fillers into the various vacuous aspects of the modern game. Rightly professed, character building is not intrinsic to the core competence but is a result of the peripheral demands one makes of oneself. These challenges help polish the rough edges and build a sense of deep understanding of one's own pitfalls to appreciate and understand a fellow mate's failings in the right perspective. This leads to good Team Building and then the larger success is scripted.....Rest becomes folklore of tomorrow...

the_silent_observer
on October 29, 2011, 13:35 GMT

Very good article that brings in non-cricket dimensions to cricket and hence sustains the interest in reading. A welcome change from the standard writings about "which captain could have done what in which test....?" It does not seem a coincidence that all such articles about ex-cricketers are classic studies about the characteristics, leadership attributes and human values (in short, not cricketing banalities).

Simoc
on October 29, 2011, 11:02 GMT

John is very keen on encouraging up and coming players. At Hale School I overheard him asking one of the groundsman about the training being given out to juniors at a training week being given at the school by mostly current W.A state cricketers. On hearing that a couple of them were 'on holiday' he was off to correct things immediately. It was the most serious I ever saw him.

Krishna_M
on October 29, 2011, 7:41 GMT

Met him in Singapore in the mid 80's when he was on a stop over there on the way to Eng w a school team. Wonderful person & was a kind but tough father like figure that seemed to command universal respect. Great choice for this role & hard to understand how CA could persist w the likes of Hilditch for so long. Greg Chappell knows his cricket and probably means well, but his personality& character won't work for most teams. Best left to work one on one w cricketers. Inverarity seems a great choice to help Aus for the next few years....And a lovely article to boot.....

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Krishna_M
on October 29, 2011, 7:41 GMT

Met him in Singapore in the mid 80's when he was on a stop over there on the way to Eng w a school team. Wonderful person & was a kind but tough father like figure that seemed to command universal respect. Great choice for this role & hard to understand how CA could persist w the likes of Hilditch for so long. Greg Chappell knows his cricket and probably means well, but his personality& character won't work for most teams. Best left to work one on one w cricketers. Inverarity seems a great choice to help Aus for the next few years....And a lovely article to boot.....

Simoc
on October 29, 2011, 11:02 GMT

John is very keen on encouraging up and coming players. At Hale School I overheard him asking one of the groundsman about the training being given out to juniors at a training week being given at the school by mostly current W.A state cricketers. On hearing that a couple of them were 'on holiday' he was off to correct things immediately. It was the most serious I ever saw him.

the_silent_observer
on October 29, 2011, 13:35 GMT

Very good article that brings in non-cricket dimensions to cricket and hence sustains the interest in reading. A welcome change from the standard writings about "which captain could have done what in which test....?" It does not seem a coincidence that all such articles about ex-cricketers are classic studies about the characteristics, leadership attributes and human values (in short, not cricketing banalities).

greynicolls
on October 29, 2011, 17:32 GMT

Wonderful insight into one of the lesser known giants of Australian cricket. Inverarity's role has been beautifully penned in this article and Australian cricket would do wonders with his precocious fillers into the various vacuous aspects of the modern game. Rightly professed, character building is not intrinsic to the core competence but is a result of the peripheral demands one makes of oneself. These challenges help polish the rough edges and build a sense of deep understanding of one's own pitfalls to appreciate and understand a fellow mate's failings in the right perspective. This leads to good Team Building and then the larger success is scripted.....Rest becomes folklore of tomorrow...

katandthat3
on October 29, 2011, 21:44 GMT

Great insight Dan. Must admit I didn't think of John as a candidate for the Head Selector role but actually pretty excited about the appointment. I'm sure there will be still selections that people won't agree with but that's par for the course. At least I know there will be more intelligence behind the decisions to select particular players. I still hope another candidate for the role Rod Marsh is found some position in the set up as well. Things are looking better, the players still have to do the job on the field but it makes it easier when the off field is well run too. Still like to see the Independent structure in CA but see what happens.

TEST_CRICKET_ONLY
on October 30, 2011, 11:11 GMT

Quality individual by all accounts, but a very average test cricketer, and his qualifications as chairman of selectors are what ? Someone who has devoted their entire working life to the game, such as Marsh, would make more sense. At least we get to start forgetting Hilditch, who should have been gone years ago. Any chance Sutherland & M. Clarke might follow him ?

whoster
on October 30, 2011, 14:26 GMT

I reckon the Aussies have got the right man in charge of selection. It doesn't matter that he wasn't a great of the game - that doesn't necessarily make you qualified to be a selector. 'The Aussie Mike Brearley' sounds like a good analogy - he's obviously a person who pays a hell of a lot of attention to what makes people tick, and that's why he's been a popular and successful school master. Selectors can only be as good as what's available to pick from, but I reckon this is a bloke who'll weigh up players not just from their stats, but whether they have the mental fortitude to handle Test cricket. Certainly a step in the right direction for Australia, and hopefully he'll show a lot more loyalty and belief in players than Andrew Hilditch. England have stuck by their guns by giving players like Cook, Bell and Broad full backing, and the dividends are now being paid handsomely. The Aussies need to identify the new generation of players, and like England, back them to the hilt.

landl47
on October 31, 2011, 2:32 GMT

This is exactly the kind of character Australia needed at this time. A person who is used to people management and getting the best out of those around him has been sorely lacking over the last 6 years. I'm sure it won't be long before Australians will find that the team is working as a unit instead of a collection of individuals. As a supporter of the 'old enemy' I welcome him and look forward to many exciting England- Australia tussles over the next few years.